How new Jackson State basketball coach Mo Williams said NIL could be better for players

As a person who played well over a decade in the NBA, Mo Williams knows what it's like getting paid to play basketball.

Now, as he leads the Jackson State basketball program, he's tasked with helping players navigate the new landscape of the NCAA's name, image and likeness rules which allow players to get paid during their college careers.

When asked whether NIL is good for college basketball, Williams said he can't blame players for taking advantage of the money, but there needs to be more rules.

"It's not regulated enough yet," Williams said Monday on the Field of 68 After Dark podcast with Jeff Goodman. "There's not enough rules in place, and I don't think they know what rules to set for it and the moment, for lack of better words, it's the wild, wild west right now."

Williams, who was hired at JSU in March after two seasons at Alabama State, said that NIL money is flowing through Power-5 programs at a different rate than HBCUs.

"It hasn't trickled down to our level, it's more on a bigger level," Williams said. "You see (Alabama football coach Saban and the coaches in the SEC feeling a certain way, but listen the door is open. What, you expect him not to take advantage of it when he can? So I can't blame him for that. If I was in a position at Jackson State to take advantage of it, absolutely I would."

Williams said that he looks at the issue from a parenting perspective, thinking of his son who attends Alabama. He spoke about having to pay for his son's college, and how NIL might relieve some of the financial stresses parents may go through.

"I look at those parents that their son goes to a college," Williams said. "When I was in college I wasn't getting nothing. It wasn't no NIL deals out there. Where they don't have to come out their pocket. not only not to pay for school, but they don't have to worry about their kid because these kids like to go buy Playstation 5s, they like to buy the best Jordans that come out, when school is out they like to go on a little vacation. That costs money. That comes out of parent's pocket."

Williams said the money can be used as a teaching tool, and an opportunity for players to make mistakes and learn before they get a bigger payday from the NBA.

"When they do get that money, now we can teach them financial literacy," Williams said. "Now you're getting money in school (and) you're in school for a reason. So now we can teach you how to teach you how to take care of this money. Maybe go put some of this money in stock, obviously crypto is big maybe learn more about that, maybe go buy a $10,000 rental property and learn how to get in real estate."

One way colleges could help the players is to create positions for professionals who can offer guidance specifically on NIL, Williams said.

"I think that's the next level to it," Williams said. "Not trying to regulate the money they get, just get an understanding, a new job title on campus where you are teaching these kids how to delegate their money instead of getting that money and going and doing all the craziest things in the world."

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mo Williams on NIL regulations, what colleges should do to help players